Badge fastener



E. C. ADAMS BADGE FASTENER May 31, 1960 Filed March 26, 1958 Fm. l.

/ N VENTOR illnit BADGE FASTENER Ernest C. Adams, Dieterich, iii. (Colonel, USARWC, Carlisle Barracks, Pa.)

This invention relates to methods for constructing fasteners for badges, insignia, or decorative devices or other appendages in such manner that they may be affixed to uniforms, clothing or fabric in a close fitting attitude and without the manipulation of separate or delicate fastening appurtenances.

This invention satisfies a long existing but unfulfilled need for badge fasteners that are integral with the badge and at the same time permit simple close fitting attachment. It is typical for fastening devices that are integral with a badge that removal requires a tedious and often delicate action to release the moving end of a pin from its latch recess, that installation requires the insertion of a pin with great care and the delicate refastening of the latch mechanism on the pin, and that the attitude of the badge is not close fitting against the cloth upon which affixed. It is also typical of badge fasteners utilizing separate fastening appurtenances to insure a snug fit of badge against cloth that the removal, retention, and reinstallation of the separate appurtenances constitute tedious and time consuming actions, and that such devices are not useable without access to the back of the cloth to which the badge is to be attached. Such appurtenances are also subject to loss and failure from wear at awkward times.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method for securely fastening badges or other appendages to fabric in a snug fitting manner by fastening means containing no removable parts.

Another object of this invention is to accomplish the snug and secure attachment of appendages to fabric by integral attachment means containing no moving parts.

Further objects and a more complete understanding of the invention may be obtained by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which show illustrative embodiments of the construction forming the basis of the invention and in Which- Fig. 1 shows a rear elevational view of one form of fastening device utilizing two oppositely directed prongs wherein there are no moving or removable parts and wherein a curved configuration of one of the prongs permits use of the typical elasticity of cloth in the insertion process and holding function. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof.

Referring to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the base prong 2 consists of an ofiset element and a pin element continuous with but at an angle to the ofiset element and extending outwardly away from the other prong fixture near the opposite end of the badge. A second and opposed gathering prong is made up continuously of offset element 3, holding portion 4 which is in a plane parallel to the body member 1 of the badge or appendage and which though curved has its chord generally pointed outwardly away from prong 2, and a hook portion 5 in the same plane as holding portion 4 and inclining gradually inwardly with its point located near a plane which passes through oifset atent element 3 and is offset to the axis which joins the perpendicular elements of the two prongs. For ease of construction the offset elements of both prongs are shown as continuous with a connecting member which is fastened by appropriate joining process to the body member 1. The badge thus equipped is fastened to clothing by grasping its body in the hand and fully inserting base prong 2 into the fabric, followed by insertion of the point of the hook portion 5 at a point on the axis on which the badge is to rest and pressing the badge sideward to stretch the cloth onto and over the holding portion 4. Removal is accomplished by reversal of the process, using minor manual stretching of the cloth to initiate the action. The removal process is facilitated by curvature in the holding portion 4 to provide a cooperating slope in its outward section. Desirable lengths for the pin element of prong 2 and the holding portion 4 of the gathering prong are in the order of one fourth inch, but will vary with the size of the badge and the distance between prongs.

Although certain preferred forms of this invention have been described, the principles herein taught may be embodied in other forms of construction of the gathering prong arrangement within the scope of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and wish to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Means for fastening the body member of an appendage to fabric comprising a connecting member having an outwardly directed offset base prong at one end and a spaced apart gathering prong at the opposite end of said connecting member offset in the same direction as said base prong relative to the connecting member, said gathering prong initially projecting away from the base prong to form a holding portion and then being reversely bent to form a hook portion opening toward said base prong, said hook portion lying in a plane substantially parallel to said body member and terminating as a point adjacent said opposite end, and means between said prongs attaching said connecting member to said body member.

2. Means for fastening the body member of an appendage to fabric as claimed in claim 1 wherein the radius of curvature of the hook portion of the gathering prong increases toward its point, whereby after insertion of the base prong in fabric insertion of the hook portion will gradually stretch and then relax the fabric to a position.

of attachment on the holding portion.

3. Means for fastening the body member of an appendage to fabric as claimed in claim 1 wherein the holding portion of the gathering prong initially slopes away from the axis between prongs and then being reversely bent slopes toward and across said axis to join the hook portion, whereby the slope in the outward section of said holding portion cooperates with manually applied force to stretch the fabric outwardly during detachment of the fastener.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

